Disappearing door safe and the like



Aug. 23, 1932. VA ABBQTT ET AL 1,873,522

DISAPPEARING DOOR SAFE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet lgmzntom I ALAbbaiz Wfiflll'ller A. L. ABBOTT ET AL. 1,873,522

DiSAFPEARING DOOR SAFE AND THE LIKE I Filed 001;. 2. 1930 6 Sha etssheet' 2 Aug. 23, 1932.

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' DISAPPEARING DOOR sAqE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2. 1950 e Sheets-Sheeta Aug. 23} 1932- A. ABBOTT ET A1.

DISAPPEARING DOORSAFE AND THE LIKE s Shets-Sheet 4 I Filed Oct. 2, 1950I Unvenfvw A. LAMoii Wam'fler W 6m I Aug. 23, 1932.

A. ABBOTT ET AL DISAPPEARING DOOR SAFE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2. 1950 eSheets-Sheet 5 Aug, 23, 1932.

A. 1.. ABBOTT ET AL DISAPPEARING DOOR SAFE AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6mewtom Filed Oct. 2. 1930 cg WflJ/l'ller Patented Aug. 23, 1932' UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE,

ALBERT L. ABBOTT AND WILLIAM c. mILIJnn, or oANToN; OHIO, essrenons ToTHE DIEBOLD SAFE & LOCK COMPANY, or JANTON, 01110, A CORPORATION or OHIODISAZPPEABING DOOR SAFE AND THE LIKE Application filed October 2, 1930.Serial No. 485,959.

Our invention relates to apparatus more particularly adapted fordisappearing doors for structures having doorways formed in the walls orframes thereof, and doors operatively mounted for movement to and fromclosing position in the doorways.

In any such structure, as usually arranged, the door is hinged andswings outwardly in one direction, and either projects directly tooutwardly from the doorway, or if swung completely open requires spaceat the side of the doorway equal to the area of the door.

The space thus required for opening any usual door is waste space, andin particular when the structure is a safe, and more particularly a fireand heat resisting safe, the space requirement for opening and closingthe door is very objectionable in the usual ofiice, wherein it isnecessary to utilize to the maximum efliciency all the available floorspace'by-reason of the steadily increasing rents.

In large offices where a number of fire and heat resisting safes may beused side by side, the inconvenience and waste of space arising from theusual method of hanging safe doors is increased in direct proportion tothe number of safes used, and is further increased by the fact that ifthe safes are placed slde by side a door of one safe when swung entirelyopen will cover the door of another.

It has heretofore been proposed to mount the door of a safe or similarstructure in such manner that the door may be shifted parallel to one ofthe sides of the structure.

' Such an arrangement is inherently desirable, but the only safe of thischaracter heretofore generally available hasbeen very difficult tooperate, requiring the use of both hands of the person opening orclosing the door, and has been dangerous in use by reason of thepossibility of smashing or cutting off the fingers of the personoperating the disappearing door.

Moreover in the disappearing door safe heretofore available, nomeans'have been provided for taking up the wear'on the working partswhich is inevitably associated with the operation of the door.

from a closed position to an opening position The objects of the presentinvention include the provision of a novel apparatus,

more particularly adapted for providing a disappearing door for a safeor the like, which is simple and economical to manufacture, which may beoperated if necessary by the use of onlyone hand of the person openingor closing the door, which embodies safety features preventing injury tothe person opening or closing the door and preventing.

incorrect operation of the door during opening or closing thereof, andthe working parts of which include adjusting means for taking up wear.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the apparatus,structure, parts, 'imv provements, and combinations, which com-' prisethe resent invention, and which are particular y and distinctly pointedout and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms the novel apparatus of the present invention forproviding a disappearing door for a safe or the like may be described asincluding a door frame having a doorway formed therein, a door carriageguide frame extending from one side of the door frame and angularthereto, and preferably at right angles and rearwardly therefrom, therebeing a door receiving opening formed in the normally front end of theguide frame, a door supporting carriage mounted for movement in theguideframe, tension means for malntainlng the carnage in operativeposition during movement thereof, the tension means preferablycomprising a flexible chain or cable connected at its ends on thecarriage and guided'between its ends by preferably stationary rolleriguide means Fig. 7, a

, position;

' member hinged at one side upon the door front wall and providing aclosurefor the .door re'ceivin opening of the guide frame duringswinging of the door. 1

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is afragmentary top plan view, -with ortions in section, illustrating a safeembo ying the present improved disappearin door structure or apparatus,and the door bemg illustrated in its closed position seated in thetongued and grooved door frame, and the other parts of thd apparatusbeing illustrated in their respective and relative positions; I

Fi 2, a view similar to Fi 1, illustrating the oor and other arts of t eapparatus in their respective an relative positions when the door is inan intermediateposition between the closing position and the positionpermitting entrance of the door into the guide frame; I a

Fig. 3, another similar view illustrating the door and other theirrespective an relative positions when the door is in a positionpermitting movement of the carriage and door in the guideframe;

Fig. 4, another similar view illustrating the door and other arts of thea paratus in their respective an relative pos1tions when the door hasbeen moved to its extreme retractedposit-ion in the guide frame;

' Fig. 5, an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of parts ofthe. apparatus in an intermediate position between the .positionsillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and in which the door may be hinged withrespect to the-carriage; a

.Fig. 6, an enlarged fragmentary view'with portions in section lookingin the direction I of the arrows 66, Fig. 3, illustratin releasableengagement of the door wi carriage;

the

detached view of the carriage looking in the direction of its u per end,and

parts of the apparatus In the ' of the apparatus-when the door is in itsexwithin the guide frame. Similar numerals refer throughout the drawins.

The novel disappearlng door structure or apparatus of the presentinvention is illustreme' retracted or disappearing position [to similarpartsv monolithic heat and fire resisting shell indicated generally at12 and enclosing the compartment 11, the shell being preferably providedwith tension re-enforcin means indicated generally at 13, and the s elland compartment being enclosed in an external metallic case indicatedgenerally at 14.

The front wall of the safe as illustrated is in theform of a door frame15 having'a doorwax 16 formed therein. door indicated generally at 17 ismounted in the'novel manner hereinafter set forth in detail for swingingmovement to and from closin position in, the doorway, and the inner sie, top, and bottom faces of the door frame and the outer side, top, andbottom faces of the door are preferabl tongued and grooved with eachother as ilustrated, for

interfitting with each other when the door is v swung to closingIposition, whereby when the door is closed t ere is no directpassagewayfor heat or flames to the interior of. the compartment 11 between-thedoor and the door frame. 1

and controlled in a usual manner by a lock which may be a combinationlock 19.

At one side of the safe .preferabl' parallel with the side wall 20thereof andY-at right a m The tonguing and grooving of the door' .anglesto the front wall or door frame 15, a

door carriage guide frame indicated generthe tracks for the upper end 0the carria e, junction of the door; frame 15 with the side beingindicated in their relative positions in dot and dash lines; v a V Fig.8, another detached view of the car riage looking in the direction ofits lower end, and the tracks for the lower endof the carria e beingindicated in dot and dash lines;

ig. 9, a fragmentary front elevation view of the safe when the door isin the closed Fig. 10, an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 9wlth portions broken away and illustrated in section; w Fig. 11, afragmentary side elevation lookwall 20. I

The carriage guide frame 21 extends rearwardly from the door frame 15,and a door 11o ally by 21 extends preferably from the corner receivlngopening 22 is formed in the front a,

end wall 23 of the guide frame.

The guide frame 21 includes an .n p'er hori- Y zontal guide track 24 anda lower orizontal guide track '25 extending parallel with each other andrearwardly from the front end wall 23-of the frame.

A door supporting carriage indicated gen erally by 26 is roller mountedfor movement in the guide frame from the front end to the rear endthereof, as by means of'laterallyand longltudinally spaced uppe rollers,mounted for rotation about vertical axes on the upper end of thecarriage 26 and rolling on opposite'sides of the upper track 24, and

. a lower roller 28 mounted for rotation about ponent of the loadapplied upon the carriage 26, and transmits the vertical component tothe top of the lower track 25.

The upper rollers 27, rolling against the opposite sides of the uppertrack 24, prevent twisting and lateral movement of the upper end of thecarriage; and for preventing twisting and lateral movement of the lowerend of the carriage, laterally and longitudinally spaced lower rollers29 are mounted for rotation at one side of the lower end of the carriage26, and a secondary track 25 is located in the frame 21 andlaterallyspaced from the track 25 and the lower rollers 29 roll againstopposite sides of the tracks 25 and 25'.v I

The door 17 preferably includes sheet metal walls forming an outer shell30, the interior of which is filled with heat resisting material 31 andtension re-enforcing 32, and the front wall 33 of the shell, extendsbeyond the I .tongued and grooved side face 34 of the door adjacent theguide frame and when the door is in closed position the front wall 33extends across and closes the door receiving front end opening 22 of theguide frame.

The door 17 is supported by and mounted for swinging on the carriage 26preferably by double hinge means indicated generally at 35, and when thecarriage is at the front end of the guide frame, the door is adapted forswinging movement to and from closingposition in the doorway.

.A latch-device 35 mounted on the carriage,

26 is employed to latch the door to the carriage and in the plane of thecarriage. This latch is automatic in the latching action immediatelyafter the carriage starts to move rearwardly; and the latch isautomatically released as the carriage approaches the forward end of itsmovement, thus freeing the door from the latch and permitting it to beswung to closed position.

Novel adjustable tension means for maintaining the carriage in doorsustaining position, that is, preventing racking of the carriage underthe weight of the heavy door, are indicated generally-at 36, and thetension means preferably include a flexible member 37 which may be achain as illustrated, and the upper end 37a of the flexible member 37.is connected to the upper end of the carriage 26, and the lower end 376of the flexible member 37 is connected to the lower end of the carriage26.

Means for sustaining and guiding the load and 380; and thesprocketroller 38a is mounted for rotation at the upper rear portion of theframe 21; and the-sprocket rollers 38!) and 380 are spaced from eachother longitudinally of thetracks; and the sprocket 38b is mounted forrotation at the rear lower portion of the frame 21; and the sprocket 380is mounted for rotation at the forward lower portion of the frame 21.

, The flexible member passes rearwar'rllly from its upper end 37a aboutthe upper roller 38a, and thence downwardly about the lower roller 38?),and thence forwardly about the lower roller 38c, and thence upwardly andrcarwardly to the connection of its lower end 37?) with the lower end ofthe carriage.

For adjusting the tension 6f the flexible member 37, a turnbuckle 39 ispreferably. in-

terposed 'in the flexible member preferably between the sprocket roller38a and the sprocket roller 38?).

Each latch means 35' may include as illustrated a latch arm 40 mountedfor rotation about a horizontal axis as on a pivot screw 41 passingthrough a suitable bearing aperture in the upper end of the arm 40 andscrewing into the carriage 26.

Spring means 42 yieldingly urge the lower end of the latch arm 40towards the front of 'the guide frame, and a stop 43 may be provided'forlimiting the forward movement of the latch arm. 1

door receiving opening 22 into the guide 1.

frame. a

' Means are providedwhich operate to release the latch means 35' fromposition engaging the door and the carriage when the {carriage is movedto a predetermined forward position, and the latch releasing means mayeach include a stop tongue 44 secured at the front of the guide frame 23for being abutted by a pin 45 on the cooperating latch arm 40 when thecarriage is moved to its extreme forward position as illustrated inFigs.

5 and 11:

Means are provided for limiting the for-- ward movement of the carriage26 and may include a tongue 46 depending from the bottom face at therear of the door wall 33 and movable for abutment against a stop 47exgrooved door 17 into the tongued and grooved door frame 15, the noveldouble hinge means 35 cooperate with hinge pins 48 mounted at the upperand lower ends of the carriage side of the door frame 15 in the positionordinarily occupied by ordinary hinge pins, and

I each hinge in 48 cooperates with'a rearwai'd- We claim:

"pin 48 and pivotal- 1y opening aring slot 49formed in abracket 1.Apparatus for disappearing doors and mounted on the wall33 of the doorbetween the like including a door frame having a I the door shell andthe carriage. v 7 t v The double hin e 35 and: the cooperating frameextending from and angular to the ring 49, as well as other door frameadjacent one side of the doorway,

details of. constructi on illustrated herein, but the the invention ofAlbertL. Abbott, ,William doorway, a carriagemounte in the guide C.Miller, and Charles E. Miller, and will be frame for movement towardsand awa from set forth in a companion application for Letthe door frame,a door mounted on t e cartainmg the above set forth objects, is broadlyframe, ermitting movement 0 the door into adapted for use wherever it isdesired to supthe g l 6 frame, means maintaining the. carport aponderous member such as a door or riage indoor sustaining position, anda rigthe like'on a carriage mounted for translatory I 1dl earned wall'onthe door extending across ceiving opening 22 of the guide frame v Thepresent invention furthermore-prefer 0 ni g movementin a guide frame. anforming a closure 'for the door receiving ably includes protective meansfor preventt e d orway. ing the fingers of an o rator ofthe improved 2.In means of the character set forth: a

disappearing door sa e 10 from being caught safe-structure having itsfront wall provided between the hinge side of the front wall 33. With adoor framejand havinglateral walls d f nt e d i -22 of th id -fextending rearwardly from theplane of said .21.. W I The prote ti meanay i l d side of and vadjacent one lateral well, said I door frame andhaving a carriage frame outide frame having a door receiving. notfurther described or claimed, comprise openlng formed therein and s acedfrom the when the door is in closed position in doorway formed therein,a carriage gmde .tersPatent. riage and movable 'between closing, sitionV The I resent invention, while particularly in he doorway and apositlon in ahnement adapted for use in safes as aforesaid for atth e ore i g op m o the gulde ondar lo u e e be hieh i hi g carriage framehaving a track extending be- I mount d nd i .h 1d th 1133 f. tween theplanes of the front and rear walls erably between the door. shell andthe carof the structure ;,a carriage mounted to travel i d: whi h t d oth d forwardly and rearwardly on said track, said The operation .of thee o da closure door swingingly mounted on'said mullion,

.-me b 60 i b t d t d-i Fi -1, 2 ada ted to be swung fromclosed positiond 5, Th b i i J Id i th to e plane of thecarriage frame, and vice sitionshown inFig. 1, but yields as shown in versa, when the mullion is at thefront end of I Fig. 2 inthe o eration of opening the door.itStraVeI'Se;'aI1d g -C r i g e- 6 It will be un erstood that the member60 vice connecting Saidearriage and said frame, serves asjagu'ard toprevent the fingers of said devlce mcludmg flexible connecting anyerson'standing near being accidentally means and supports therefor. nearthe front cau t between the rear end of the extension nd rear ends ofthe traverse of the plate 33 and the w'al123 at the front sa1d'dev1ceserving end of the frame inwhich the door is housed rueu right position,regardless of the posiafter it is opened. When the door is in the tion 0said carriageon said track.

closed position shown in Fig.1 the rigid and the prises a chain and saidsupports comprise at front end of the ids-frame guard 60, lies a jacentthe front-wall pinions engaging said chain and journalled s chain .36has a compensating own in Fi 1 and 2. a X v on the carnage frame atpoints near the front Referring to lg 8. 11 and 12, it Wlll be. um I andrear en s of traverse of said mullion. derstood that when the'door isshovedream 4. A structure as specified in claim 2, in .wardly mto theguide-frame, the tension which said flexible connecting means comwhichpermits this action, but evertheless upper and lower end portions ofsaid'mulli'on, serves to held the mullion 26, accuratelyrin an saidsupports comprise pinions mounted upri lzt position. As has been stated;the on the carriage frame, one at the lower front weig o I at the upper;rear portion of said frame. v The foregoing detailed description has Astructure as specified in claim 2, in been given for clearness ofunderstandin which saidflexible connectingmeans and said only and nounnecessary limitations should supports aredisposed ina plane outside ofbe understood therefrom but the appended and parallel claims should bebe construed as broadly as mullion travels.

-' 'p'ermissib ein view of the prior art.

carriage comprising an upright mullion; a

3 A structure as defined in claim 2, extension of the'plate 33 covers.the openmg whlch -sa1d flexible connecting means com-- with the plane inwhich said movement prises a chain having its ends secured to the j athedoor tends totilt' the carriage portion of said'frame, one at thelower rear forwardly, but the tension chain counteracts portion ofsaidframe, and .one

or counter-balances-thi's'tendency.' I

6. In means 'of the character set forth; g in.

of said mullion, I to hold said mullion in safe-structure having itsfront wall provided with a door frame and having lateral walls extendingrearwardly from the plane of said door frame; a closed chamber outsideof and parallel with one end-wall of the safe-structure, constituting acarriage-frame equipped with a track, said chamber having at its frontwall a vertical opening; a carriage mounted on said track, comprising anupright mullion adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly in saidchamber; a door swingingly mounted on said mullion and movable throughsaid opening, said door having a rigid extension adapted to form aclosure for the opening and a carriage-controlling device connectingsaid carriage and frame, said device including flexible connecting meanshaving its ends secured to the upper and lower portions of said mullion,and supports therefor journalled on said frame, said supports beingdisposed, one at the lower front corner, one at the lower rear corner,and one at the upper rear corner of said frame. a

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, in which the flexible connectingmeans and the supports therefor are located within the chamber outsideof the plane of traverse of said carriage.

8. In a structure of the character set forth:

a guide-frame provided with a track; a carriage movable on said trackcomprising an upright mullion; a door swingingly mounted on saidmullion, adapted to swing from. a position in the plane of saidguide-frame to a position at right angles thereto, and vice versa,.whensaid carriage is at the forward end of its traverse; and acarriage-controlling device located at one side of the plane in whichsaid carriage travels connecting said carriage and frame, said deviceincluding flexible connecting means and supports therefor near both endsof the path traversed by said carriage, said supports permittingcompensating movement of said flexible means as thecarriage travels.

9. In means of the character set forth: a safe-structure havinga frontwall provided with a door frame and having lateral walls extendingrearwardly from the front wall; a carriage guide frame disposed outsideof and parallel with one lateral wall of said structure; a carriagemounted in said guideframe for forward and rearward movement therein; adoor swingingly mounted on said carriage and movable between closingposi tion in said door frame and a position in the plane of saidcarriage guide-frame; and releasable latching means for latching thedoor and the carriage together in position permitting movement of thedoor into the guideframe.

10. A structure as specified in claim 9, in which the'door is providedwith a rigid extension projecting beyond the door-supporting hinges, andin which said releasable which a guard member is hinged to the rigidextension of said door and projects beyond the free vertical edgethereof when the door is in closed position.

In testimony that we claim the above, we have hereunto subscribed ournames.

' ALBERT L. ABBOTT.

'WILLIAM G. MILLER.

